Monday, October 31, 2011

A remake of a classic, The Three Musketeers departed from the traditional retelling of the legendary warriors of France. Is this a good move from the Director or will this be its downfall?
The Three Musketeers was inspired by steampunk and flying ships. Add some "bullet time" and lots and lots of swashbucklery. A modern approach to the story gave this film lots of good entertainment. I must admit, if they stick to the old traditional retelling of the story, this movie would suck. Come on, hot women, lots of action and great destruction, what more could you ask for?
The casting was great as each of the actors and actresses portrayed their character well. Milla Jovovich sexy portrayal of Milady de Winter upped the ante and I will watch this film over and over again just for her.
The costume design was spectacular and the props make you feel you were really on that era. There is some minor detail, some items were not historically correct which I think was deliberately left out because the director is really aiming for a steampunk modern feel to an old story. The flying airship scenes reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean and the fight scenes well, reminded me of The Matrix.
Overall, if you are looking for eye candy and value for your money, this movie is for you. Hot men for ladies and hot women for the gentlemen. Everyone is a winner.

Monday, October 17, 2011

The usual reaction you will hear when you learn that you need to visit the dentist is either a sigh or an awe. I know, because that was my initial reaction reaction when I learn that I was invited into a free consultation to a dentist. All that changed when I finally arrived there, everything changed.

K Dental Studio as the name implied, is not a dental clinic at all. As you enter the studio, you will be greeted by a relaxing ambiance that you will never see in any other dental facility in the Philippines. There's a relaxing room and comfy sofas that you can relax on while waiting for your turn. The dentist, Dr. Karla Domingo, is a skilled practitioner and has a pleasing personality to boot. My stigma to dental clinics and dentists were finally gone when I met Dr. K and with a pretty face like that, I don't mind being on her operating chair all the time.
Come visit the K Dental Studio at 1409 Medical Plaza Ortigas, San Miguel Ave., Pasig, Philippines and experience a one of a kind dental ecstasy.
The studio is open on Mon - Sat: 10:00 am-6:00 pm, Visit their website at http://www.kdentalstudio.com/ and you can also like their Facebook pageView the facility by clicking here

Saturday, October 08, 2011

It's been a few days since the passing of Apple's former CEO and founder Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs. Seven years after diagnosed, he succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Why is the world mourning over his loss? Find out why after the jump.
Steve Jobs alongside Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne founded Apple in 1976. Since then, Apple became the forefront in computer sales with its technologically advanced machines . But it all slowed down as Bill Gates and his Microsoft overwhelmed Apple's sales. Later on jobs was fired from Apple (the company he had co-founded) and started a new company which is NeXT Computer in 1985.
NeXT Computer was the computer used by Tim Berners-Lee, the father of the world wide web in his first ever server. To this point, Jobs made a very big contribution, directly or indirectly, to the modern life we had today. NeXT was acquired by Apple Inc. in 1997 and Jobs returned to the company he had co-founded. WebObjects, a technology of NeXT was used to build and run the Apple Store, MobileMe services, and the iTunes Store.
The company subsequently branched out, introducing and improving upon other digital appliances. With the introduction of the iPod portable music player, iTunes digital music software, and the iTunes Store, the company made forays into consumer electronics and music distribution. On June 29, 2007, Apple entered the cellular phone business with the introduction of the iPhone, a multi-touch display cell phone, which also included the features of an iPod and, with its own mobile browser, revolutionized the mobile browsing scene. While stimulating innovation, Jobs also reminded his employees that "real artists ship",by which he meant that delivering working products on time is as important as innovation and attractive design.
In August 2011, Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple, but remained at the company as chairman of the company's board due to his poor health.
Jobs died at his home on October 5, 2011. His death was announced by Apple in a statement which read:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

Also since October 5, 2011, Apple's corporate website greeted visitors with a simple page showing Jobs' name and lifespan next to his grayscale portrait. Clicking on Jobs' image led to an obituary that read

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

Because of his genius, Steve Jobs and his Apple Inc. set a standard in technological advancement and design. Whether we admit it or not, other companies adjusted to Apple's innovations and not the other way around.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

September is a going to be a milestone to DC comic book collectors around the world. Why? Because DC is rebooting 52 of its titles. Yes you read it right, rebooting 52 comic book titles, all back to issue #1.
Before you violently react to the news. Read the whole story after the jump.
The New 52 is a 2011 DC Comics event marking the publication of 52 new comic series and the release of the first issues of the new series. In September 2011, DC Comics consolidated and relaunched their comic lines, publishing new #1 issues for selected series, discontinuing some series, and introducing yet other series. The event receives its name from a previous DC event titled 52 in which DC Comics pushed all their comic series's continuities forward one year and published the 52 Vol 1 comic weekly for one year to explain the interim happenings in the DC universe.
In my opinion, this is DC's move to target the new generation (pretty much what Hollywood producers do today) of comic book fans. It would be great for new readers to start collecting from issue #1, although some old school collectors may think of it as just a business strategy stint. look on the bright side, your old, pre-reboot comic books will cost a fortune in the years to come.
Visit the DC Universe blog for the complete list of the new 52

Sunday, August 28, 2011

23 years old Mark Errol D. Colipano died yesterday August 28, 2011 in an accident at Novaliches, Quezon City. You can view the video of the news here

A former student of mine, Mark was known to be a prankster but loved by his friends. He was engaged to Carla Cuevo who is currently pregnant with thir baby. Truly, Mark's death shocked all the people who knew him.

Friends posted on his Facebook wall all their messages and condolences. He may never be online anymore and reply to the messages, but he'll still be online in our hearts. Mark, wherever you are, hope you find peace.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Dear Princess,I am writing you this letter to let you know that I am relinquishing my duties as your servant. For I have failed to do the duties I have sworn my life with. I have committed the greatest crime of all. I had fallen in-love with you.

All the times we spent together, all the laughter, all the sorrow, I experienced it all beside you. I know I have no right in loving you for I am just a lowly servant. I cannot compete with your knight and shining armor, or have the attention just like your prince charming. I don't know if you have noticed, I've been doing my best so that you can notice me. But all actions were futile for I am just your servant. It pains me to see that you're happy with your prince charming or your knight in shining armor while I am doing my best just for you to notice me, I felt that you were never happy when you're with me. I know it was futile just to even try, but it would be more painful by regretting doing it than doing my best and failed.

I tried to distance myself just to know if you'll care, but you never noticed I was gone. I guess a servant like me can never be part of your royal life. I am leaving you without regret. I know you'll be happy with your prince charming and all I want is for you to be happy.

I'm sorry my princess for a lowly servant like me fell in-love with you. I loved you once, loved you always, and love you forever.

Marvel completed its Avengers team by finally showing the remake of the real American hero by the name of Captain America. As we all know, Marvel has been having a hit and miss situation with the recent hit of Thor and the X-Men First Class and the flops like Spiderman 3. Will the real American hero deliver the "final justice"? Find out after the jump.Don't get me wrong here, Captain America is a great film...if you're an American. The plot was taken from the comics but was tailor-fitted for the Hollywood "standards" by concentrating on a love story angle rather than follow Captain America's bond with his best friend Bucky Barnes which was the plot of the comics.

Chris Evans played the part of the all American hero pretty well, but what really stands out was the diabolical performance of the antagonist Red Skull (played by Hugo Weaving). Hugo in my opinion out shined Chris Evans in the film and his performance is highly commendable.

The visual effects and CGI was top notched as expected always on a Marvel film. The World War II atmosphere was realistically captured but some scenes like the top of the train totally looks fake. The transformation of Chris Evans body into a small physique all thanks to CGI totally wowed the audience and could not thell apart what is real and what is not.

Overall, Captain America's target audience were not the die hard sci-fi comic book fans out there who wanted justice for the comic book hero, but the general audience who doesn't mind discrepancies on details but enjoys a popcorn movie with enough love and action to watch with their love ones and friends alike.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Harry Potter is one of the best selling franchise in our movie industry today, and sadly though, all things has an ending. Ten years after the film dominated the big screen and the long journey of Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) has come to an end. Is the final iteration epic enough for the millions of Harry potter fans worldwide? Read on.. The previous gritty and moody feel that looks like an overexposed film was still intact as the the movie started with a serious tone. If you read the book, it is natural to predict what will happen next. It is only natural to imagine what you have read and picturing it while watching the film. This technique may disappoint some fans because they will realize that the film was not depicted as it was on the book, from cover to cover. It gave a certain difference from the book as some scenes from the book where different on the movie (read some of J.K. Rowling's journal to know the story behind the changes). Again, the movie may vary from each of us.

The acting of the three main roles (Radcliffe, Watson and Grint) greatly improved. The maturity of the cast gave justice to the characters they were portraying. Sadly though, some of the previous cast had little or no roles whatsoever (it was justified by the progression of the story itself).

Watching this film in 3D is highly recommended as with all of the previous Harry potter films, this one gave a lot of eye candy. From the splash of the water, to the blistering hot fire. The details and blending of the CG was oh so great.

Book fans will be shocked as part of the "ultimate battle" was not taken from the book. They made a "different" and "improved" version which some might like and some may not agree.

In the end, any shortcomings of the film will not be necessary because the fact that this is the last of the Harry Potter films, and each and every one wanted to see how the "19 years later" was interpreted. All was well..

So who's your favorite Harry Potter character?

For me it's Severus Snape. Seriously, Snape's role may not be that important to some, but to me, it was the greatest twist ever executed in a story.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

A recent craze spread all over the interwebs. Google sent out invites to their new social networking site that may be on par with Facebook. With full integration with other Google products and access to other Google affiliates. So what is Google+ anyway? Read on after the jump.Google's continuous development of social networking tools from Google Wave to Google Buzz led to the birth Google+. From an ordinary netizen's standpoint, Google+ is just a Facebook clone. From the "news feed" (stream on Google+) to the like button (+1 on Google+). If you dive in further though you will realize that Google fully customized how you post your stuff, how they were distributed and who can view them, in a sense, Google solved the one thing that was plaguing Facebook, security.

For now, Google+ haven't been opened to the general public. Just like Gmail before, to get a Google+ account, you must be invited by someone who was already using the service. You can't blame users who brag that they are using Google+ even before the public release, but the truth is, they were just invited by their friend, who in turn, was invited by others.

A year from now, pedophiles and 14 year old girls pretending to be adults will flood Google+ and the "tailor-fitted" security will be ignored. Society will blame Google+ for rape and murder resulted from someone meeting with a stranger he/she met on Google+.

In the end, Google+'s future will depend on how people use it, just like its predecessor Facebook and Friendster.

Sunday, July 03, 2011

The third and final installment of of the Transformers franchise was expected to fail in many aspects all thanks to the previous installments. But will the third movie finally shut the mouth of the critics? Or will it finally prove that Michael Bay is all about the explosions not the story? Find out after the jump.Let me just go straight to the point. I was not excited to watch the third movie of Transformers as I was not impressed with any of Michael Bay's films. But I got the chance to watch it earlier without the hassle of falling in a very very long line. Anyway, as expected, the movie lacks character development and the story was written poorly as if the writers were too busy with the "eye-candy" they forgot that a plot is needed. Sure there are lots of actions, explosions, explosions, and more explosions. But that cannot hide the fact that the story (if ever there really is one) was full of loop-holes. I believed that the story was sacrificed just to emphasize the "drama" of the humans fighting the Decepticons.

If you are looking for eye candy and hot women, then this movie is for you. But if you're into an intellectual plot or just a solid plot to follow, then stay away from this almost three hours long crappy film.

Friday, June 24, 2011

It's been a trend in the comic book universe that even the mightiest of super heroes meet their demise. From the epic death of Superman, to the assassination of Captain America, fans seriously dig this scenario. My favorite superhero finally met his own doom as the recent release of Ultimate Spider-Man #160 concluded the "Death of Spider-Man" arc (Ultimate universe only. Peter Parker is still alive in the original universe as an old man). This plot will pave way to a new Spider-Man that will be introduced this 2011. Peter Parker will no longer be the man behind the mask and the new Spider-Man will wear the new costume (see image above) that symbolizes a new beginning.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

With the final chapter published almost four years ago and with the exciting conclusion to the Harry Potter movie saga a month away, a recent viral advertisement of owls spread all over the internet. If you click one, you will be directed to this video:

J.K. Rowling was talking about the Harry Potter online experience named Pottermore.The site launched just an hour ago and within minutes the site crashed due to heavy traffic

You better leave your email now to experience more of the Harry Potter universe.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Marvel dominated the superhero movie scene with its million-budget adaptations of their popular comic book characters. DC on the other opted for a quality over quantity approach, with the success of The Dark Knight, every comic book and movie enthusiasts were expecting much from the Green Lantern.

Fans of the comic book were thrilled that Green Lantern finally got the chance to be made into a live action. Non-comic book fans were also excited to see something fresh and that what made Green Lantern even more popular.

Story-wise, it was partially adopted from the comic books and tweaked for the movie. Hal Jordan was the famous of all the Green Lanterns and his story was magnificently told in a CGI rich film. Watching this movie will make your jaw drop in amazement. Sadly the amazement stops there. Even though the main essence on how Hal Jordan got the ring was there, the main story line itself wasn't engaging and overall it was shallow and dry. Ryan Reynolds is a good actor and he was good as Deadpool back on Wolverine Origins and his acting here at Green Lantern looks like laid back or restricted.

Speaking of acting, the chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively wasn't that appealing. Don't know if there's something lacking or the story just overshadowed it. What makes a good movie is when people retold some parts they liked over and over again and laughed about it, sadly, Green Lantern lacked that "epic-scene-you-want-everyone-to-remember"

On the positive note, fighting scenes and the aircraft maneuver were note-worthy.

I am not discouraging anyone from watching the film because if you're into massive CGIs and an ample amount of action then this movie is for you. Hardcore superhero fans may tend to shove off some stuff but will eventually accept this movie.

Monday, June 06, 2011

After you concluded a money generating franchise what will you do next? Create a sequel to earn more money! It's been a trend in Hollywood that creating a prequel or a spin-off can restore the flow of money. X-Men First Class takes us way back into he past as discover how Professor X founded the X-Men.

Is the prequel formula a sure hit or Marvel created a flop that will soon be forgotten by fans just like Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace? Find out after the jump.With the array of super hero movies coming our way and the disappointment of X-Men 3: The Last Stand, a lot of comic book fans wonder if First Class is going to be the saving grace of the franchise.

A lot of people agreed that X-Men The Last Stand was an epic fail. But I can safely say that this prequel/spinoff gave breath to the dying franchise of X-Men.

The story deviated from the original comic book story on how Professor X formed the X-Men. For those who didn't know, the original "first class" were Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Jean Grey. But I think Marvel chose to select other members to prevent a rehash of the previous three films. The movie took a complete turn as it narrates the origin of Charles and Erik's friendship totally different from the comics. For me, deviating from the comics help create an alternate story that doesn't require the complicated plots of the comic universe.

The cast gave life to the characters they were portraying from the comic universe. No miscasting here like that from The Last Airbender *goosebumps*. But I think the cast need a little tweak in their acting but those are just minor hiccups.

The visual eye candies are great as some CGI distort the boundaries of reality and fantasy. Seriously, it was beautifully made that you can't tell the difference. I do hope future super hero films have the same awesome CGIs.

Overall, the well written story and the beautifully executed special effects made this movie a much watch not just by the X-Men fans, but by the other movie junkies as well.

Monday, May 23, 2011

May 21, 2011 6PM was supposed to be the "rapture" or many called it the end of the world. Time passed by and eventually the day ended without a single smite of thunder or an apparition of the four horsemen. What happened to the promised "rapture"?The Rapture is when Jesus Christ gathers all of the faithful and bring them to the Kingdom of God. Now, Harold Camping, president of Family Radio, predicted that the Rapture will occur on May 21, 2011 and the end of the world will follow six months after. Some believed him, but a lot didn't. You see, the rapture was always "predicted" before and never happened. Below is a list of the supposed past predictions of the rapture but didn't happen.

1844 - William Miller predicted Christ would return between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844, then revised his prediction, claiming to have miscalculated Scripture, to October 22, 1844. The realization that the predictions were incorrect resulted in a Great Disappointment. Miller's theology gave rise to the Advent movement. The Baha'is believe that Christ did return as Miller predicted in 1844, with the advent of The Báb, and numerous Miller-like prophetic predictions from many religions are given in William Sears book, Thief in The Night.1914, 1918, 1925, 1942 - Dates set for the end by the Jehovah's Witnesses.1981 - Chuck Smith predicted that Jesus would probably return by 1981.1988 - Publication of 88 Reasons why the Rapture is in 1988, by Edgar C. Whisenant.1989 - Publication of The final shout: Rapture report 1989, by Edgar Whisenant. This author made further predictions of the Rapture for 1992, 1995, and other years.1992 - A Korean group, "Mission for the Coming Days", predicted October 28, 1992 as being the date of the Rapture.1993 - Seven years before the year 2000; the Rapture would have to start to allow for seven years of the Tribulation before the Return in 2000. Multiple predictions.1994 - Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church in Los Angeles predicted that the Rapture would occur on June 9, 1994. Radio evangelist Harold Camping predicted September 6, 1994.

All those years, many believed in the prophecy. When will people learn? When will they realize that some people use the Bible and make you believe that hidden within is the date of the judgement. Remember, the Bible was used to spread the Word of the Lord, not strike fear to the people. The book of Revelations is not there for us to crumble in fear, but instead, make us realize that even in the darkest times, God will be there to save us.

Nobody can really tell when will the end of the world will occur. Jesus said that it will come unannounced like a thief that comes into the night.

As long as there are good people, even a handful, God will not destroy the world (remember Sodom and Gomorrah?). Trusting God means you don't fear death, but instead, you accept it with open arms.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

The first three Pirates of the Caribbean established the franchise as one of the box office hit. Is adding a fourth one help continue the streak or it'll be a sign that the series needs a break? Find out after the jumpPirates of the Caribbean here in the Philippines is like Harry Potter in fame. As early as 10AM, most of the last full seats (10:30PM) were reserved or already purchased. As expected for a film that brought a trilogy that a lot watched. So is a fourth film worth it?

First of all, the fourth film, On Stranger Tides, is not a continuation of the trilogy. It mainly showcases the comic-relief protagonist Captain Jack Sparrow which I believe is the main selling point of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The absence of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann helped prevent a rehash of the first three. Having Rob Marshall instead of Gore Verbinski had the fourth film sailed on a different direction. There story was pretty much straight forward but some twists assured that it will not be predictable. If ever you feel that there's a plot hole somewhere, you can head over to IMDb.com because a lot of fans there were defending the film with a valid point.

As expected with Johnny Depp, his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow was superb, it's like he's always in character the delivery of the humor is spot-on. Penélope Cruz added more spice to the film. Her exotic look and accent fits well and her tandem with Depp was in chemistry. Also, the other characters' portrayal and development (especially that of Sam Claflin (Philip) and Astrid Berges-Frisbey's (Syrena) sub plot) were well written.

The musical score was top-notched, as expected from a Disney film. The movie was filmed in Dolby Digital Surround 7.1 and watching it on DTS theater house is worth it. Just like the other films from the franchise, the music enhances the dramatic scenes and boost the humor. All were properly composed and executed.

I haven't watched the film in 3D due to financial reasons (3D here is expensive) but some say it was't worth it.

In conclusion, the film is a good popcorn flick that packs a punch in humor and a decent story but to serious movie goers it may be sequel that wasn't necessary at all and the franchise is losing its magic.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

58 year old wrestling icon Macho Man Randy Savage died last Friday when he suffered a heart attack while driving, resulting into a car accident in Tampa, Florida.

Born Randall Mario Poffo, Macho Man became a wrestling legend when he was a star in World Wrestling Federation (WWF now WWE) between 1985 up to 1994. He continued his career at World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling and won 20 championship belts in his career.

I may not personally know the man, but he's part of the memories of my wonderful childhood, which forever be remembered in my life. Rest in Peace Macho Man.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Vampires were often a major selling point in a movie, especially if those vampires are sexy babes or hunks that sometimes sparkle when hit by the sun. The movie Priest though offer a different perspective on the appearance of vampires, now portrayed as grotesquely looking beasts with no eyes and possessed huge teeth. Can this movie please the ever growing vampire fanbase or will it be a flop just like the other vampire movies before it? Find out after the jump. Priest was adapted from the Korean manhwa (Korean's version of manga) with the same title. The manhwa was inspired by the anime and video game Blood which turned into a movie last 2009.

The visuals of the film were limited due to the fact that the movie's setting was in the middle of the desert. The movie was turned into 3D during post production so watching it on 3D was a disappointment. Only a number of scenes can be appreciated in 3D and the rest were just plain and boring. I expected lots of action sequences involving the main character ,which by the way is cool according to my standards, but sadly not much action were shown. Fast paced action were slowed down reminiscing those of past action films like the Matrix and was beautifully executed but nothing new there.

The story deviated from the manhwa (just like other adaptations) and turned into a cliche of past vampire films. Some minor plot holes can be noticed (which is typical on a Hollywood film) and the character development were limited (due to the a sequel perhaps?). Action fight scenes seems limited so you might be looking for more.

Paul Bettany portrayed the character of the priest well which performed most of the action sequences. Maggie Q was just for eye candy as her participation was limited. The antagonist was bad-ass and should have more action sequences as well. If ever there will be a sequel, the writers should focus more on the character development and add more screen time to the other characters.

The musical score was right on as you can hear Mozart's masterpiece fill the theater house. Sound effects and constant growling from the vampires were executed well.

Overall, this movie was good on the outside, but if you look closer, it's just another vampire slayer cool enough to kill some vampires and live another day to slay some more. Nothing much new here except for the cool weapons of the priest and the somewhat message to the Catholic Church (better watch to find out). If you're a vampire fan and looking for action like the Underworld, then this movie is for you. But if you want a deep storyline and more character development then you better look elsewhere.

Counter Strike, Day of Defeat, Portal and Team Fortress had been highly successful despite the fact that these games are just modification (mods) that took some elements and/or resources from it's main game, Defense of the Ancients or popularly known as DotA is an action real time strategy (RTS) game that was made from the Warcraft III tool set. Soon it became a very popular game across the world. Just like the previous games mentioned, DotA will now have a separate stand alone game currently entitled Dota2 that will run without installing Warcraft III and is currently developed by Valve.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Comic book fans are always happy when Stan Lee and the rest of the Marvel team decided to make a movie about their favorite comic book hero. There were hits that truly gave justice to the comic book hero they loved and there where misses that fans tried to forget. Now that the "God of Thunder" has his own movie, did Marvel gave justice to this hammer wielding hero or should they have a "reboot" just like what happened to the Incredible Hulk? Find out after the jump.The elements in making a movie a hit are eye candy, reasonable plot, good acting and good musical score. Thor fortunately are good on all of the above mentioned.

If we talk about eye candy, women will tell you that it's all about the nice body of Chris Hemsworth and the men will tell you it's all about Natalie Portman and Jaimie Alexander. Geeks will tell you it's the awesome design of Asgard and the special effects that look marvelous in eye popping 3D. The shiny effect on armor and other glittering objects were really done well and watching this movie entirely on 3D is definitely a must. Unlike previous movies claiming to be 3D, but just had 3-5 minutes of actual 3D, Thor will treat you full 3D through-out the duration of the film.

Regarding the plot, It was nice that Marvel considered the audience that had no idea what's Asgard and the whole Thor universe. The almost 1 hour of prologue is enough to answer questions that may rise during the progression of the story. The only flaw I saw (which is only minor) is that there's not enough character development on minor roles, like Thor's friends and several other characters. Also, the origin of Thor's power was not based on the comic books but an entirely new one (typical to most movie adaptations)but these small cracks did not affect the awesomeness of the movie.

The acting of Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman on-screen is noteworthy. The added romance to the plot increases the likelihood of having a ThorxJane fans club and attract the younger audience. Other characters performed their part well, which is good, since like I said previously, that not all characters where fully developed.

The enchanting musical score was given justice by the DTS of the theater house I had watched Thor and it really captivated the mood of the scene. Some may overlook this small detail but the music has a major impact when combined with the rich visuals of the film.

Overall, this movie is a bang for the buck. Watching it on 3D will never get you wrong. Also, I wouldn't mind if a sequel may come out in the future. By the way, wait till the credit roll end, as with the previous Marvel films, a nice epilogue will appear.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Every smartphone that comes out in the market is always labeled as the "iPhone killer" and when Samsung introduced this budget-wise Samsung Galaxy S x iPhone love child, you can't help wonder if this is just one sick joke or it's now a new ball game.Boasting a 800 MHz ARM 11 processor and 278 usable RAM. The Galaxy Ace is Samsung's way of giving cheap affordable Android phones that looks like the iPhone! Come on, with a P16,500 SRP you can't get wrong with this shiny piece of gadgetry.

Came packed with the not so latest Android Froyo 2.2, You can access the Android marketplace for thousands of free apps. Trust me, you'll spend lots of hours just looking for apps and trying each and every one of them.

But what about performance? Given that you bought this gadget to utilize each and every feature it have, You're in for a keeper. Multiply apps running on the background like Tweet Deck, Facebook app, Plurk and Angry Birds, you will never experience major slowdowns and application errors. That's a nice feat for a 800 MHZ processor IMO. The camera take decent shots especially if utilized the highest available resolution. The sound quality when playing music is awesome thanks to the DNSe sound enhancement. The bundled 2GB microSD memory might be a letdown but hey, you can upgrade to 32GB without any issues. Texting and calling is not an issue all thanks to Samsung's TouchWiz UI, at least there's no problem with the basics.

But like every gadgets, Galaxy Ace have its Achilles heel. The battery life might be too short for some people (like me!), well, let's say that if you use Ace as an "internet phone", it will took only 2-3 hours for the battery to drain. I guess that aspect may vary on each user anyway. But how I wish it has the strong battery life of an iPhone or even an iPod it will really make this gadget a sure winner.

Overall, if you're looking for an Android phone that's not too painful to your wallet, why go for 600 MHZ budget phones when you 'll add a couple of thousands more and you'll get a decent phone like Samsung Galaxy Ace.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

When I first heard about this movie I thought it's gonna be another The Social Network movie about nerds becoming billionaires. Instead, this movie is about a "secret government project" was used into solving crimes like terrorism. The "source code" brings back the "user" in the final eight minutes of a recently deceased individual. More like a Minority Report but instead of going into the future, the program let you return to the past to investigate the unsolved crime. With that premise, this movie caught my attention.To be honest, if you haven't learn the premise of the story, you will be confused on the earlier part of the film. But as the story progressed, the "source code" was explained. This approach made the movie a lot more interesting and it lets you get hooked with the story.

The story, as most sci-fi movies out there, have plot holes all over it. A lot of debates spawned over the interwebs and I was amazed that a lot of netizens were defending this movie. What that in mind, this movie had acquired a fan base of its own. As for me, I'm just thinking that this is Hollywood, and in Hollywood, plot holes really do appear because the main objective of the movie is to entertain the viewer (Michael Bay films anyone?).

I was happy that the cast of characters were really developed through out the film, well given the fact that the train scene was recreated over and over again. But at least they gave justice to each character, even the minor ones.

The music though needs more to be desired. The film was lacking music that might boost the emotions in the movie, much like the background music from Inception. But this minor hiccup can be forgiven.

Overall, this movie is a keeper for some sci-fi movie buffs like me and I recommend you watch it with a love one or with your buddies.

Friday, April 01, 2011

21 year old Mike Lido was found dead on his apartment last Wednesday. Police found out in their investigation that Mike took his own life by slitting his own throat after learning that cosplay goddess Alodia Gosiengfiao is quitting cosplay and decided to go back to school. With nothing more to do on his life, Mike Lido decided to end it.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Trending on Twitter today was the news that the famous actor Jackie Chan died from a heart attack while filming Kung Fu Panda 2.

With no confirmation from credible sources and the coming of April Fool's day, this hoax is just one of the numerous Jackie Chan death rumors that were circulating over the internet for the past few months.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

With Zack Snyder, the director of Watchmen and 300, at the helm of one of the most anticipated movie of 2011, you can't help but expect a lot. Did this movie deliver or it's like an apple in a bunch of lemons? Here we go.Swords check, guns check, Nazi check, zombies check, dragons check, intense brutal action check, petite school girl check, explosions and death check. This movie is packed with lots of eye candy that caters a lot of perverts fans out there.

Most of the film takes us on a dream sequence within a another dream sequence (OMG this sounds familiar!) and this is where the action takes place. Visually, this movie is highly detailed from the tiny falling snow to the biggest explosion. This will make you want more. If this film's eye candy were to be real candies, I'm gonna be diabetic.

In the music department, majority of the story was set on the mood by the musical score. Some scenes make you wonder if this film is a collection of music videos. I almost jumped from my seat when I heard Bjork singing Army of Me, I was a fan of her way back. Anyway, I was disappointed that the mall where we watched this movie haven't placed Sucker Punch on a DTS equipped cinema, but instead, some local film was placed there. It could have been great to hear those slashing and blowing in digital surround.

Emily Browning gave justice to that "petite school girl" fetish we were talking before and the other girls played their part well. Too bad character development was not prioritized in this film which resulted to some gaps and questions that plagued the film.

Finally the story. It's one of those movies where you really really need to think in order for the story to sink in. It's like Inception but with less complications and a lot more action. A lot of critics did not agree with the story but I guess we have our own opinion about it. As for me, Even though the story lack some punch to it, it delivered the message well.

If you are into action and have a knack for eye candy, then this film is right up on your alley.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

No people, the world hasn't come to an end yet. What you're seeing on my site is really a review of the local film Catch Me..I'm in Love starring Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson. I know it may or may not affect the credibility of my review but have you ever wonder why this movie earned 15 million pesos on its first day? What the hell is this movie anyway? Why on Earth do people watch it? Find out after the jump.Let's cut to the chase, no sugar-coated review here. First off the ever so important story, If you look at it closely, the entire plot is all about the guy from a "higher class" and the girl from the "lower class". Yes folks, we still have caste system here. Probably because of Meteor Garden fandom back then. Anyway, the story progressed damn right predictably and the cliché is never ending. remember "A Very Special Love"? Well..replace John Lloyd with Gerald and you have Catch Me..I'm in Love. I know right?! But why, why do people still dig this? Why do they still watch this kind of film even though they know what's the story and what will the outcome be? The answer lies on the so called "kilig moments" Seriously, you can feel the intensity inside the theater during these moments and you will realize that every couple, every heart-broken individual can relate and/or emulate by the situation. Topped it up with the natural acting of Sarah Geronimo as a "lower class" girl (you can pair any guy with this talented girl and you can still achieve that poor girl persona) and you have a sure win formula.

Hollywood films may have the best story lines and/or the best effects, but it all boils down to what the people really want..that "kilig" factor that made this movie a top grosser.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Today is Ash Wednesday, the faithful flock the churches attending mass and tries to receive the imposition of the cross to their forehead marked by ashes from burned palms from last year's Palm Sunday. Why do we celebrate such a tradition?

People tend to forget what really is the true meaning behind the tradition. As I receive the cross today, I observed that some people cut in line and elbow their way just to get their foreheads marked. Some receive the cross as a status symbol and end up bragging about it. But do remember that the reason why the cross is written using ash (and calling it Ash Wednesday) is to remind us that we all came from ashes and eventually in ashes we return. The cross symbolizes our acceptance as sinners who repent sincerely to God. The symbol, that even though we are powerful here on Earth, we are still a speck of dust to Him. Hope that you received that cross not just for the joy of Ash Wednesday, but for accepting your sins and believe in the Gospel.

Fact: Starting today, Hallelujah and Gloria will not be sang until Easter vigil. Loud instruments are temporary banned from the Church choir. Count 46 days from now and that day will be Easter Sunday.

Monday, March 07, 2011

The ever popular slice-of-life manga/anime of Japan will be having a new story that will cover the university life of the four former members of the Light Music club and the life of Azusa after the girls graduated. You can read the complete details by visiting my article by going to GameOPS.net

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

A run for a cause went mainstream last year as top companies like ABS-CBN and Milo invited every athlete and non-athlete to join the fun run so that a chosen charity could benefit from it . Well, Japan too had been hosting a lot of marathon in the past few years and by far Tokyo Marathon is the most famous. Find out why after the jump.The recently concluded Tokyo Marathon Charity Run 2011 last February 27 attracted a lot of foreigners and otakus alike. That's right, that's not a typo. A large number of otakus joined the recent marathon wearing their favorite anime character. A "cosplay marathon" as they call it.

The proceeds of the charity run were given to selected institutions around Japan. And they say otakus are worthless human beings.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

It started first as a tweet to the mayor of Detroit, Mayor Dave Bing, that a statue of Robocop is needed to represent the city.

Read the what happened next after the jump.Mayor Dave Bing responded that there are no plans of building a statue for the said movie icon.

But that didn't stop the citizens of Detroit, instead, they formed an independent group in Kickstarter (all thanks to Imagination Station Detroit), a Facebook page was also created, which all campaigned for the erection of the Robocop statue.

As of press time, $60,147 were accumulated from the $50,000 original plan. An amazing 2,196 backers had already given their pledges and Fred Barton Productions, the company behind the production of the original Robocop movie, will donate materials for the 1:1 scale model.